Lord of Laois is a title that belonged to the historical rulers of the Kingdom of Laois in Ireland. It was held by the O'More family[2] and later the More O'Ferralls who ruled the kingdom.[citation needed] The title is first recorded as existing in 1016, in the Annals of the Four Masters.[3] After the O'Mores were dispossessed of their lands in the 16th century, they left Laois, after 600 years. Despite this, they continued to hold the title.[citation needed]

Lord of Laois
Arms of the Lord of Laois
Arms of the Lord of Laois
Arms of O'More: Vert a lion rampant and in chief three mullets Or
Creation date1016
Created byIrish King
PeerageIreland
Seat(s)Dunamase Castle, later Balyna
Motto'Cu Reu Bhaid ("The hounds to victory")
Frequency Comparisons:[1]

History

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Lords of Laois (non-inclusive list)
Anglicised name Irish-language name Reign Lifespan Notes Citations
Lysaght O'More Laoiseach Ó Mórdha died 1342 [4]
Conall O'More Conall Ó Mórdha 1342-1348 died 1348 Lysaght's son [4]
Rory O'More Ruaidhrí Ó Mórdha died 1354 Slain by his own kinsmen and household [3]
Maolsheachlainn O'More c. 1370-1398 died 1398 [5]
Gillapatrick O'More Giolla Pádraig Ó Mórdha c.1398-1420 died 1420 [5]
Kedagh O'More Céadach Ó Mórdha died 1464 Died of the plague [3]
Donnell O'More Domhnall Ó Mórdha died 1467 [5]
Uaithne O'More Uaithne Ó Mórdha 1467-c. 1487 died c. 1487 [5]
Conall mac David O'More began c. 1487 died 1493 Succeeded his uncle Uaithne [5]
Kedagh O'More Céadach Ó Mórdha died 1523 Son of Lisagh O’More [6]
Connell O'More Connell Ó Mórdha 1523-1537 died 1537 [4][7]
Peter O'More Piaras Ó Mórdha 1537-1538 Succeeded his brother; was exiled from Laois by his nephews [7][8]
Kedagh Roe O'More Céadach Ruadh Ó Mórdha 1538-1542 died 1542 Killed by Gaelic warlord Domhnall MacMurrough Kavanagh [9][7][8]
Rory Caoch O'More Ruaidhrí Caoch Ó Mórdha 1542-1547 c. 1515 - 1547 Killed by brother Giolla Pádraig's forces [8]
Gilla Patrick O'More Giolla Pádraig Ó Mórdha 1547-1548 died c. December 1548 Died during imprisonment in London [8][10]
Conall Oge O'More Conall Óg Ó Mórdha 1548-1557 died 1557 Crucified in Leighlinbridge [2]
Rory Oge O'More Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha 1557-1578 c. 1544 - 30 June 1578 Succeeded his uncle [2]
James O'More Seamus Ó Mórdha began 1578 Son of Rory Caoch O'More's brother Lysaght [2]
Owny MacRory O'More Uaithne mac Ruairí Ó Mórdha 1594-1600 c. 1575 - August 1600 [11]
Owny MacShane O’More Uaithne mac Séan Ó Mórdha began 1600 [12]
Coat of arms of Lord of Laois
 
Coronet
A Coronet of a Duke
Crest
On a ducal coronet Or a dexter hand couped Gules, epaumée
Escutcheon
Vert a lion rampant and in chief three mullets Or<
Motto
'CU REU BHAID ("The hounds to victory")

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "O'Moore".
  2. ^ a b c d O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'More (Ó Mórdha), Rory (Ruaidhrí Óg)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006909.v1.
  3. ^ a b c Annals of the Four Masters.
  4. ^ a b c O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'More (Ó Mórdha), Laoiseach". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  5. ^ a b c d e O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'More (Ó Mórdha), Giolla Pádraig". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  6. ^ Gray, Will (9 June 2016). "The Chiefs of Leix from 1016 to 1600 A.D". Forgotten Victorians. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Ó Raghallaigh, Eoghan (2010). "A poem to Rudhraighe Caoch Ó Mórdha, lord of Laois 1542-7" (PDF). Ossory, Laois and Leinster. 4.
  8. ^ a b c d O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'More (Ó Mórdha), Rory (Ruaidhrí Caoch)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006908.v1.
  9. ^ Archbold 1895.
  10. ^ O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'Connor Faly (Ó Conchobhair Failghe), Brian". The Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006622.v1.
  11. ^ O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'More (Ó Mórdha), Uaithne". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  12. ^ Lineage and the terms of his "surrender and regrant" settlement online

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainArchbold, William Arthur Jobson (1895). "O'More, Rory (d.1578)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 42. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 175–176. Endnotes